A third of women spend 46 days of their adult life in pain - for beauty
A third of women spend the equivalent of 46 days of their adult lifetime in pain - for the sake of beauty.
A study, of 2,000 women, found 33 per cent experience pain as a result of their beauty regime, for an average of one hour and 26 minutes each month - a total of just over 1,098 hours over their lifetime.
Among the reasons for this irritation are treatments such as lip fillers, facials and traditional methods of hair removal such as waxing.
But while 79 per cent of those claim the level of pain is worth it for the reward, a quarter admitted to experiencing negative side effects from the treatments they put themselves through.
This includes in-grown hairs from shaving (27 per cent), skin breakouts (19 per cent), and even blistered skin from waxing (13 per cent).
The research was commissioned by Philips Lumea IPL, which is launching the ‘Pain Payback’ pop-up on Saturday 8th June - an immersive experience showcasing alternatives to regular painful hair removal methods.
Beauty expert from the brand, Chloé Fallon said: “We put ourselves through so much for the sake of beauty.
“Whether it’s waxing, tweezing, threading - it all comes back to being in discomfort and our study shows how willing women are to put themselves through this.
“These kind of beauty treatments can help build confidence and a sense of freedom if you choose to remove, so they are crucial for a lot of people, but you shouldn’t have to compromise and be in pain for the sake of it.”
The study also found 58 per cent of women wish the treatments they endure were less painful, but 76 per cent feel they don’t have a choice.
And one in 10 have had scarring following a treatment, while 24 per cent have even had allergic reactions to beauty treatments.
But it appears pain is pleasure, as 26 per cent feel more confident as a result.
It also emerged almost one in 20 (four per cent) put themselves through the hours of treatments because it gives them a sense of freedom.
While 33 per cent said it makes them feel happy, 21 per cent more attractive, and 11 per cent feel ‘glowing’ after a beauty treatment.
The research, conducted via OnePoll, also revealed women spend an average of almost £500 a year on their beauty regime.
And 20 per cent would like to find less painful and time-consuming beauty treatments while 17 per cent are looking for ones they can do at home instead of having to visit a beautician.
Chloé Fallon, from Philips Lumea IPL hair removal devices, which claims its intense pulsed light technology can slow down hair regrowth for up to 12 months, added: “Women are suffering in pain for the sake of beauty and the research shows that it can be hard to avoid.
“So many hair removal solutions involve plucking or pulling, and who wants that? But there are less painful options available that you also don’t have to do as often, which mean you can spend that time doing something more enjoyable.”
TOP 10 MOST PAINFUL BEAUTY TREATMENTS:
- Eyebrow plucking
- Tweezing
- Eyebrow waxing
- Leg wax
- Threading
- Bikini line wax
- Underarm wax
- Massage
- Lip fillers
- Shaving
